title: Testing of common electromagnetic environments for risk of interference with cardiac pacemaker function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac pacemakers are known to be susceptible to strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This in vivo study investigated occurrence of electromagnetic interference with pacemakers caused by common environmental sources of EMFs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven volunteers with a pacemaker were exposed to EMFs produced by two mobile phone base stations, an electrically powered commuter train, and an overhead high voltage transmission lines. All the pacemakers were programmed in normal clinically selected settings with bipolar sensing and pacing configurations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the pacemakers experienced interference in any of these exposure situations. However, often it is not clear whether or not strong EMFs exist in various work environments, and hence an individual risk assessment is needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modern pacemakers are well shielded against external EMFs, and workers with a pacemaker can most often return to their previous work after having a pacemaker implanted. However, an appropriate risk assessment is still necessary after the implantation of a pacemaker, a change of its generator, or major modification of its programming settings.
authors.affiliation: Safe New Technologies, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiikkaja
authors.forename: Aapo L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Aro
authors.forename: Tommi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alanko
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sistonen
authors.forename: Juha E K
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hartikainen
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toivonen
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juutilainen
authors.forename: Maila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hietanen
keywords: cardiac pacemakers; electromagnetic fields; occupational exposure; risk assessment